A proud unapologetic Black trans woman speaking truth to power and discussing the world around her since 2006

Thursday, September 01, 2011

ABC Primetime Nightline-My (Extra) Ordinary Family

Like most of the trans community I watched the Primetime Nightline show entitled 'My (Extra) Ordinary Family: Inside The Transgender World' that focused on transkids. I had mixed reviews leaning toward hating it after it concluded. .

The first question I have to ask is what genius thought it was a good idea to have Charles Kane as part of this show? He was not a child when he transitioned and his story is not only not relevant to the announced theme of it, he shouldn't have even been a part of this program. .

The second question I asked myself was why wasn't TYFA's Kim Pearson invited to discuss the issue of trans children since trans youth is the primary focus of her advocacy work? It would have been a far more intelligent and caring discussion if she had been a part of it.

And piggybacking on that last question I asked, since they were talking about trans kids, why didn't they interview Nick Teich of Camp Aranu'Tiq, the summer camp for transkids to talk about what they do?

I also didn't like the pushing of the person of color transgender escort meme in the segment focusing on Latina transteen Vanessa.. The "Why don't you go work at McDonald's?" comment' aimed at her by Cynthia McFadden shows whoever put this segment together didn't do their research. It was insensitive and classist in light of the transphobic drama, violence, discrimination and far too frequently repeated transphobic incidents that have happened to transpeople in their restaurants over the last several years.

ABC has the video up for it, and here's the show for those of you who didn't see it last night.

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About The TransGriot

Monica Roberts, AKA the TransGriot (Gree-oh) is a native Houstonian, GLAAD award nominated blogger, writer, and award winning trans human rights advocate. She's the founding editor of TransGriot, and her writing has appeared at the Bilerico Project, Ebony.com, The Huffington Post and the Advocate.
She works to foster understanding and acceptance of trans people inside and outside communities of color and was recently honored with the Virginia Prince Transgender Pioneer Award

TransGriot Blog Mission Statement

The TransGriot blog's mission is to become the griot of our community. I will introduce you to and talk about your African descended trans brothers and trans sisters across the Diaspora, reclaim and document our chocolate flavored trans history, speak truth to power, comment on the things that impact our trans community from an Afrocentric perspective and enlighten you about the general things that go on around me and in the communities that I am a member of.

--Mission Statement compiled January 2, 2011

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